AccuWeather's latest storm news said that the East Pacific is entering the severe storm season, as storm No. 5 Erick is forecast to form on June 17.
The latest storm is likely to rapidly strengthen and could make landfall on the coast of Mexico as a severe hurricane.
Following Typhoon No. 4 Dalia, a low pressure area off the coast of Mexico is forecast by AccuWeather meteorologists to strengthen into Typhoon No. 5 in the 2025 typhoon season in the East Pacific region.
With four tropical storms and one hurricane forming, this year's hurricane season in this basin has taken place much faster than the historical average.
Typically, the fourth tropical storm will appear here in mid-July, while the first typhoon will form around June 26. Barbara has strengthened into a hurricane since June 8.
We expect the new tropical depression off the southern coast of Mexico and western Central America to move slowly in a north-northeast direction and gradually strengthen in the middle of the week. On June 17, the tropical depression, or possibly tropical storm Erick, will appear," said AccuWeather's leading hurricane expert Alex DaSilva.
AccuWeather forecaster warned that Erick "can accelerate very quickly from a tropical storm to a severe hurricane". A rapid intensification could take place just a few hours before making landfall on the southwestern coast of Mexico, on the night of June 18 or the morning of June 19.
Last week, Hurricane Barbara peaked with sustained winds of 120 km/h, classified as a Category 1 hurricane while still offshore. The new Erick is expected to easily overcome that intensity as it approaches shore and densely populated areas.
The amount of rain and wind affecting the northern and eastern areas of the storm's center will depend on how strong the storm will be before making landfall in the second half of this week. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to affect Mexico before the storm makes landfall.
Forecasters warn of significant heavy rains in coastal and inland mountainous areas in southern and southwestern Mexico, enough to cause dangerous flash floods and landslides.
AccuWeather meteorological experts predict that this year's East Pacific typhoon season will have about 14-18 tropical storms, of which 7-10 storms will become typhoons. Of these, three to six will directly affect Mexico and Central America.
After Typhoon No. 5 Erick this week, there may be a short lull in the eastern Pacific.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic hurricane season has yet to show signs of activity due to the influence of dry air, dust and wind shear, factors that often prevent the formation of early-season storms.
Although the current possibility is very low, we are still monitoring the area near the mainland in the southwest of the Gulf of Mexico and the northwest of the Caribbean Sea, beware of the possibility of storms and tropical depressions forming at the end of June, said DaSilva.
